Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to transfer data to a new device or secure it before flashing. The question of where exactly Xiaomi backup is stored becomes critical when you need to quickly restore contacts, SMS or call history. Local backup in the shell of MIUI and HyperOS is a powerful tool that creates an accurate cast of your system, but finding the created file in the file system is not as easy as it seems at first glance.
There are two main storage scenarios: local (on the device itself or external map) and cloud (Mi Cloud), understanding the difference between them allows you to flexibly manage the space and ensure the safety of information even if you completely lose your gadget. In this article, we will discuss in detail the structure of folders, paths to archives and the nuances of working with system backups.
Local Storage: The Path to Backup Files
When you back up through the standard settings menu, the system forms an archive with the.bak extension or a set of folders with data. By default, this data set is written to the internal memory of the device, which is the fastest way to create a copy, since it does not depend on the speed of the Internet connection.
To find the stored data, you need to use a standard explorer. The path to the files may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the MIUI shell. In most current models, the path is as follows:
- 📂 MIUI — root-folder
- 📂 Backup – Directory for all backups
- 📂 AllBackup – a folder containing full copies of the system
Inside the AllBackup folder, you'll see a directory with a long numerical name that matches the date and time the copy was created, and that's where the.bak files containing settings, apps, and user data are stored.
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If you don’t see the MIUI folder at the root of internal memory, check the hidden file display settings in your file manager.
Use of external SD-storage-card
MicroSD-enabled smartphones have the advantage of being able to transfer backups to an external medium, freeing up internal space that is often filled with media and app cache, and moving a copy to an SD card is a smart decision before resetting to factory settings.
To change the default save path, you need to go to the backup menu, and there's a switch that allows you to select the target drive, and once this option is activated, all new archives will be created along the /SD/MIUI/backup/AllBackup path.
However, if you use a cheap card with a low speed class, the process of creating and especially recovering data can take much longer, and external drives are less reliable for long-term storage of critical data compared to cloud services or a computer.
The folder structure on the external map is completely duplicated by the internal one, which makes it easier to manually copy the archives to your computer for storage, so you can simply copy the folder with the date of creation to your hard drive, creating a double insurance policy.
☑️ Check before transfer to SD
Mi Cloud Cloud Storage and Synchronization
Unlike local files, the data stored in the Mi Cloud does not have a physical path in the phone's file system as one large archive, but is distributed across Xiaomi servers and synchronized with the device, including contacts, notes, calendar, voice recorder and gallery.
Cloud data management uses a separate section in your account settings, where you can see how much space is occupied and what categories of data are being synchronized. Unlike a local backup that is created on schedule or manually, cloud sync often works in the background in real time.
This data is not only accessible from your phone, but also via the i.mi.com web interface, which allows you to restore contacts or view photos even if you lose your smartphone. However, a full backup system (app list, launcher settings) to the cloud is usually not downloaded as a recoverable file, unless you use the specific "Advanced Sync" feature available in some regions.
Table of comparison of conservation methods
To better understand how to save data, consider a comparison table that will help you choose the best option depending on your goals: quick migration to a new phone or long-term archiving.
| Parameter | Local (Inner memory) | External SD-map | Mi Cloud (Cloud) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed of creation | Tall. | Medium (depending on the map) | Low (network dependent) |
| Access without phone access | No. | Only with the map extracted. | Yes (via browser) |
| Type of data | Full cast of the system | Full cast of the system | Contacts, photos, notes |
| Risk of loss | High (when the phone breaks) | Medium (card damage) | Minimum |
As you can see from the table, no method is perfect on its own, and local copy is essential for quickly deploying settings on a new device of the same model, while the cloud saves in situations of complete loss of the gadget.
Recovering data from a local copy
The process of recovering from a local file requires care. If you have transferred a backup file from a computer or other phone, it must be placed strictly in the appropriate folder. For Android 11 and newer ways may have changed due to Google's security policy, but Xiaomi often retains compatibility with old paths through emulation.
Once you have the file in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder, you go to the recovery settings, the system scans the directory and offers available restore points, and you can choose whether to restore it, just contacts, only applications, or all at once.
⚠️ Note: When you restore a full copy of the system on the device, the current settings may be overwritten. Make sure that the data you recover is not conflicted with the current version of the firmware.
A common problem is when the system doesn't see a backup file, which often happens if the file is renamed or corrupted when it's copied, and also check that the file is in the folder with the numerical name (date) and not in the root of AllBackup.
What to do if the backup is not restored?
Copying backup to a computer
For maximum security, it is recommended to periodically copy the backup folder to your computer. Connect your smartphone over USB, select File Transfer Mode (MTP) and copy the entire AllBackup folder or specific date to your hard drive.
This is especially true before installing custom firmware or obtaining root rights, when the usual protection mechanisms can be violated. On a computer, the file takes up less space if it is additionally archived in ZIP or RAR.
When you recover from a computer, you reverse the process: copy the folder back to your phone. Make sure the folder structure is saved. If you put the.bak file just in the root of the internal memory, the system won't detect it.
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Regular copying of the local backup to the computer is the only guarantee of data safety in case of physical breakdown of the smartphone.
Frequent problems and their solution
Users often encounter a “Not enough space” error even when there is free space, which may be due to file system fragmentation or limitations of the FAT32 file system on older memory cards that do not support files larger than 4GB.
Another problem is encryption: On modern versions of Android, local backups can be tied to a particular device or account, and when you try to recover data on another phone, the system can request a password or deny access to certain sections, such as Wi-Fi passwords or banking application data.
⚠️ Note: Data from secure applications (banks, messengers) are often not stored in the system’s shared backup for security reasons.
If you’ve switched phones to a different brand, Xiaomi’s local backup won’t help you, and in such cases, you’ll need to rely on syncing your contacts through Google Account and transferring photos via Google Photos or Mi Mover.